LOS ANGELES — A look at the strengths and weaknesses in the matchup between the University of Wisconsin football team and Stanford, who meet at 4 p.m. Tuesday in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.

When the Badgers have the ball

Advantage: Stanford

It’ll be strength against strength, with the Badgers ranking No. 12 nationally in rushing offense (237.8) and Stanford at No. 3 in rushing defense (87.7).

But this has been a different UW offense with the emergence of third TB Melvin Gordon. He touched the ball 11 times (10 carries, one reception) in the last two games and produced five plays of 20-plus yards, including four of 46 or more. Stanford has allowed only 12 runs of 20-plus in 401 attempts.

Gordon has been a perfect complement to RB Montee Ball, averaging 175.5 rushing yards in the last four games, and James White, who had four 100-yard games in the second half of the season.

What can offensive coordinator Matt Canada pull out of his sleeve after a masterful game plan against Nebraska in the Big Ten Conference Championship game? “There’s always more left,” Canada said. “We can draw up plays for days and days.”

Avoiding lost-yardage plays will be critical for UW, but not easy. The Cardinal’s 3-4 defense is first nationally in both tackles for loss (120) and sacks (56). Stanford is allowing 2.8 yards per carry in large part because of 505 lost yards in the running game.

The run defense suffered a blow with the loss of starting NT Terrence Stephens, due to an NCAA rules infraction. Stephens also missed the previous two games and UCLA did some damage up the middle in rushing for 284 yards in the Pac-12 title game, the most allowed by Stanford this season.

UW is averaging 5.7 yards per carry on first downs, which must continue, in order to stay out of third-and-longs. OLBs Trent Murphy (10 sacks) and Chase Thomas (7.5), as well as DE Ben Gardner (7.5), feast in those situations.

Stanford doesn’t blitz as much as it did last year, following the departure of co-defensive coordinator Jason Tarver. The pass rush relies on effort and hustle. ILB Shayne Skov is the emotional leader of the talented LB Corps.

The Cardinal is No. 83 in pass defense (251.2), so if UW gives QB Curt Phillips time, he could have success throwing. WR Jared Abbrederis is the best deep threat in this game. The wild card is former starting QB Joel Stave, who was cleared after suffering a broken collarbone more than two months ago and could play a role. Stave’s strength is the deep ball.

When the Cardinal has the ball

Advantage: UW

Redshirt freshman QB Kevin Hogan is 4-0 — all against ranked opponents — since Stanford coach David Shaw made the bold move to replace the struggling Josh Nunes. Had Hogan been ready to play earlier, the Cardinal might be undefeated, since passing issues were factors in the losses to Washington and Notre Dame.

The offense has been more efficient with Hogan and the passing game is now better than its No. 92 ranking (203.5). Hogan has shown good composure and brings the added dimension of being able to run. “His athletic ability is something you can’t teach,” Shaw said. “When he gets out in space and makes a guy miss or breaks a tackle, that’s such a plus.”

Stanford’s WRs are nothing special and UW CBs Marcus Cromartie and Devin Smith played exceptionally well down the stretch. They key matchup is going to be Stanford All-America TE Zach Ertz (66 catches, 837 yards) against SS Shelton Johnson and FS Dezmen Southward. UW could also help with a CB on Ertz and Smith has moved to the nickel spot in recent games if the matchups dictate.

The Cardinal leans on RB Stepfan Taylor just like UW does on Ball. Taylor has rushed for 1,442 yards and is the second-leading receiver (38-270). The offensive line is big and physical and has allowed 17 sacks in the regular season, best in the Pac-12. LT David Yankey is an All-American and C Sam Schwartzstein a second-team All-Pac-12.

UW’s “Indy” formation on third downs, with anywhere from four to six players in upright stances at the line, is a concern for Stanford. “YOu don’t know who is coming or where they are coming (from),” Ertz said. “That is the big problem with that.”

Special teams

Advantage: Stanford

At some point before the game, UW interim coach Barry Alvarez planned to talk to his team about the importance of special teams in this game. That could be a problem for the Badgers, who are changing kickers. Freshman Jack Russell worked with the No. 1 unit in practice ahead of struggling sophomore Kyle French.

Stanford K Jordan Williamson has game-winning field goals against San Jose State, Oregon and UCLA (Pac-12 title game). Terrell ranks 15th nationally as a punt returner (12.6) and the kickoff coverage team leads the conference. UW leads the Big Ten in kickoff returns (23.1).

Intangibles

Advantage: Stanford

Stanford opponents had the most combined FBS wins (85) entering bowl season of any team’s schedule. Five opponents had nine wins or more and UCLA faced Stanford twice, making it six games against opponents with at least nine wins. UW opponents combined for 74 wins.

Stanford is (5-1) against opponents ranked in the Associated Press poll, while UW is 2-3. The Cardinal had two of the biggest upsets of the season, 21-14 against then-No. 2 USC on Sept. 15 and 17-14 against then-No. 1 Oregon on Nov. 17. UW beat Nebraska (10-3) 70-31 in the Big Ten title game for its biggest win.

Stanford had game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime of six games and three of its last four wins were by four points or fewer. UW’s last three losses all came in overtime and its five losses are by a combined 19 points.

Coaching

Advantage: UW

Alvarez, the UW athletic director who is returning to the sideline for one game, has been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, as well as the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame. He is one of the best big-game coaches of his generation, with an 8-3 bowl record that carries the best all-time winning percentage (.727). He is 3-0 in Rose Bowls and the winningest coach in school history at 118-73-4 (.615).

Stanford won its first Pac-12 title since 1999 in the year after quarterback Andrew Luck was the No. 1 overall draft pick. After serving as the offensive coordinator for four seasons, Shaw has gone 22-4 in two seasons as head coach. The Cardinal has reeled off seven straight wins to get to this game.

The only thing Shaw lacks is a lengthy track record, but appears to be one of college football’s up-and-coming coaches.

Prediction

The Badgers appear to have survived the chaos of the coaching change and the pending departure of at least six assistant coaches. Stanford hasn’t always won convincingly, but it’s a solid champion from a superior conference that doesn’t make a lot of mistakes.

Stanford 27, UW 21

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